I picked up my new son during Thanksgiving week in 1998. I was really unsure how my two cocker spaniels would handle dealing with a new brother. Billy was the most beauitful wrinkled bundle I had ever seen. I then noticed his parents, they were huge, his mom smiled at me when I took him. His dad stood at over 6'. I thought "what have I gotten into". Well we found out.
Billy was a never ending powerhouse. He was so gentle but mischevious. Bubby was housebroke within 2 weeks it was amazing. He did have 1 accident and wet on the floor but he then went in to the bathroom got some paper off the roll and laid it on his mistake. He looked at me and waged his tail. How could I get mad at him. By the time "Bub" was 6 months he learned to open the fridge. He came into the living room with a roast. I yelled at my kids to remember to shut the door. They swore that they did. I started watching and low and behold Bub opened the door and helped himself. I had to put a chair in front from that day on to keep him out. He learned how to open the oven, the back door (to his kennel) when he wanted out.
He was full of energy. He also had his mom's smile and did it often. There was a day when my daughter was upset and crying about a lost basketball game. Bub came along and started grabbing her arm with his mouth. I told him no teeth and he began to nibble her all over causing her to laugh. From then on when someone was sad or upset Bub would tickle and perk them up. He was such a wonderful loving boy. We would take him swimming and he sure had a hard time being a little back heavy.
By the time he was 2 he weighed 123 pounds. He was my son, when he would get in trouble, he would lay down and pout. Until I would go over and let him know it was alright and I forgave him. Life was so much fun with Bubby he really kept me going for 2 1/2 years. I knew he was special.
This year we went to Canada for a vacation and my son (home from college) stayed home to care for him. When we returned Bub didn't look well. I was rubbing him down and found that the nodes in his neck were the size of baseballs. I went into a panic and called his vet. We took him in and after tons of tests he discovered lymphosarcoma. He told us Bubby only had a couple of weeks at the most. Needless to say I cried my eyes out. How could this happen to my boy. He was so young. No one in the household could accept that our guy was dying.
The cancer spread trifold within a week. I stayed up at night with him just holding my giant and talking with him. I couldn't watch him suffer any longer, I called his vet and brought him in on Saturday, July 7, 2001. Bubby was put to rest in my arms. I miss my gentle giant so much but yet thank God for the privledge of being able to love him while I could.
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